Killjoy

One fine Thursday in an ophthalmologist office. A red bloodshot eye. "Did you scratch your eye?"; "High blood pressure?"; "Heavy lifting?"; "Diabetic?"; "High fever?"; "Taking blood thinner medicine?" "Any pain, headache?" "Has it ever happened before?" No to all of the above. After she checked me she said, "Your eye is fine. The bleeding is only on the outer layer of your right eye. It should clear up within two weeks." What a relief, I thought. Then she said, "Go see an internist make sure it's not something serious like stroke." Huh?

Donkey Work

One ordinary early Thursday morning in a swimming pool. Feeling rather gloomy. Going back and forth the 25-meter pool, completely engrossed in my own thoughts, concentrating on my swimming form. Then I noticed something small and grey amidst at the bottom of the blue tile pool. A tiny Eeyore! The most gloomiest, observant, negative, pessimistic, depressed, cynical and complaining donkey on earth. What a codonkeycidence!

Prince Charming

One hot and humid evening in a mall. As I was approaching an escalator I saw a family of four heading in the same direction as me. Two boys. About 12 & 9. The oldest walked right along mom and dad, while the younger one walked leisurely a little further behind them.  I reached the escalator right after Mom, Dad & the oldest boy got on it, so I waited for the little guy to join his family. "Go ahead," I said. He looked at me in the eye, extend his right arm and nod a little bit and said, "No, after you!" What a delightful little guy! I did a little curtsy and said, "Why thank you, that was very kind of you!" 

I'm Back!

A half hour jogging never felt so good after a seven and a half weeks running break. 

Space Invader

One hectic night at CKG departure gate. A long traffic jam and a long queue. A yellow line printed on the floor says it loud and clear. But this man followed me all the way to the check in counter. And when I pointed out nicely that he was suppose to wait behind the line my words fell on deaf ears. He was busy texting something with his mobile. He didn't say anything. He didn't even look at me. I took a couple of long deep breaths and silently told myself to let this one go. It has been a long night. I just want to get on the plane.

Welcome

About two weeks ago. (I did tell you that I forget things, right?) One handsome day in a mangrove park somewhere in North Jakarta. Written on a glass window of a small wooden booth at an entrance gate. Can you tell me what is wrong with this picture? 

Forget Me Not

I forget things. I just do. I have no idea why my brain has selective memory. I have no clue why my brain choose to remember some information and delete others. So I don't have a photographic memory. I'm not perfect. Nobody is perfect. But life is not about being perfect, it's how one accept the imperfection of others that makes it perfect. 

Running Strong

Running, for me, is a prayer, a meditation. I don't compete. I run because of the way I feel when I run. My thinking mind shuts down and my body takes over, moving in sync, creating the act of running. And I a totally aligned with my surroundings. My feet can feel the paint on the road in Central Park, my body can sense approaching cyclists on the bike path, my ears can pick up the different languages in Time Square. I'm not running but flowing. I'm one with the universe. (Rashid Naseem in Dr. Jordan Metzl's Running Strong)

Skill

Last Thursday. An incredibly loud and hot afternoon. On a fast boat back to Jakarta from pulau Pramuka. The boat doesn't have any window on either side. When the air condition broke down most people who slept woke up almost right away. Including me. Except for a man right in front of me. And he was wearing a denim jacket. Some people just sleep through anything. I envy him. 

Men At Words

Pastor Rick Warren reminds me of Dr. Seuss. Both love rhyming words. He says when it comes to loving others bear in mind that: I will never get my point across when I'm crossed, I must be truthful but tactful, I must be understanding not demanding, I must be gentle not judgmental. Would I remember these points next time I'm hijacked by anger?

Outodbox Quiz #5

If you have a light in the attic you can surely answer this question: How many slices in a bread? You may answer more than once. First person to answer correctly will get this journal I made. A5 size, 160 pages of brown paper, side stitch binding, an elastic band with a flower button, plus a cute wooden tiger bookmark that double as a mini ruler. This one is dear to my heart because its cover is a print of doodles courtesy of my little brothers and sisters in KDM. Send to you wherever you are, free of charge.